Empowering Communities: The DACAG and LIOB Role in Equity
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At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), public participation and community guidance are central to our mission of ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable utility services for all Californians. Two advisory bodies play a role in shaping the CPUC’s policies and programs for disadvantaged and low-income communities: the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG) and the Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB).
Together, these groups provide a community voice reflected in the state’s clean energy transition, affordability efforts, and access to essential services.
The Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG)
Established by Senate Bill 350 (De León, 2015) and managed jointly by the CPUC and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the DACAG provides advice on clean energy policies and programs that aim to ensure California’s net-zero carbon transformation is equitable and inclusive. The group is comprised of representatives from community-based organizations and advocacy groups that serve environmental social justice and tribal communities.
Key Focus Areas
- Advising the CPUC and CEC on clean energy policies and programs that address energy affordability, pollution reduction, and access to advanced technologies.
- Advocating that the state’s clean energy investments, like energy efficiency and transportation electrification, can benefit all communities, especially those most affected by climate change and pollution.
- Providing recommendations on how to better engage and support community-based participation in energy and climate decision-making.
“DACAG guidance is an immense resource for the CPUC in terms of advancing our energy justice work. Members are able to bring community concerns from across the State directly to decision-makers, uplifting marginalized voices and providing crucial input to help shape clean energy programs and policy,” said Zara Jamshed, CPUC Regulatory Analyst and liaison to the DACAG.
Recent DACAG discussions have focused on the state’s Equity and Access Roadmap, clean transportation initiatives, and distributed energy resource programs, to contribute to California’s ambitious climate goals while ensuring no community is left behind.
DACAG members including our new Tribal Representative, Councilman Michael Vasquez of the Pechanga Band of Indians; CPUC Commissioners Darcie L. Houck and Karen Douglas; CPUC staff; California Energy Commission (CEC) Commissioner Noemi Gallardo; CEC staff; and Pi-Ta Pitt, Tribal Utility General Manager for Pechanga Western Electric.
The Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB)
Established in 2001, the LIOB advises the CPUC on the design and implementation of programs that help low-income Californians access affordable energy, water, and telecommunications services.
Created by the Legislature, the Board brings together representatives from community organizations, utilities, and state agencies to ensure that policies remain responsive to the needs of low-income households.
Key Focus Areas
- Providing input on programs such as the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs, which offer bill discounts to qualifying customers.
- Overseeing Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) efforts, which provide energy efficiency upgrades to income-qualified households at no cost.
- Advising on strategies to improve outreach and enrollment for these programs, including multilingual resources and community partnerships.
- Expanding collaboration with state agencies and community groups to address energy affordability and energy insecurity more broadly. The LIOB also helps the CPUC identify ways to streamline assistance programs across different utilities and regions, making it easier for Californians to access help when they need it most.
“The Low-Income Oversight Board keeps health, comfort, and safety at the center of its conversations. Its guidance helps make sure that low-income programs don't just reduce energy use and costs on a bill but actually improve day-to-day living conditions for the households we serve,” said Jen Gordon, CPUC Low Income Oversight Board (LIOB) Liaison.
Working Together Toward Equity
While each group has a distinct mission, the DACAG and LIOB share a common goal: ensuring that California’s transition to a clean energy future is fair, affordable, and accessible to everyone.
Their guidance helps the CPUC implement programs that:
- Reduce pollution and energy burdens in frontline communities.
- Expand the benefits of clean energy programs and policies.
- Strengthen protections for low-income and vulnerable Californians.
By engaging directly with the communities most affected by our policies, these advisory groups help the CPUC make better, more informed decisions, and advance our vision of a safe, reliable, and equitable utility system for all.
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By Adam Cranfill, Information Officer